Though Jesus himself appeared of old as the Captain of the Lord's host, Josh. v. 13-15, in Joshua, as a type, we are shown what the Captain of our Salvation is. He was marked by His faith and decision for God, Josh. xiv. 8; xxiv. 15; by His uncompromising warfare against God's enemies, Josh. x. 28, 30, 37, 39, 40; by His strict adherence to the guidance of God's Word, Josh. i. 7, 8. These are points for the Christian warrior to lay well to heart, Phil. iii. 16, 17.

But let us look at Jesus himself, tempted by the three great enemies of man.

I. The World, that vast system without; it may be things, it may be people, but all under the wicked one, 1 John v. 19. With this Satan captivates souls, Eph. ii. 2. He offered it to Jesus, Luke iv. 5-7; but Jesus repelled him with the Bible, Luke iv. 8; Deut. x. 20. There is but one way to overcome the world, 1 John v. 4, 5.

II. The Flesh, that great power within, Rom. vii. 19, which is ever in conflict with the indwelling Spirit, Gal. v. 17. Though there was no sin in Jesus, Satan appealed to His human weakness in hunger, Luke iv. 2, 3; but again he was repelled with the Bible, Luke iv. 4. There is but

the one victory for us, Gal. v. 24.

III. The Devil, that subtle foe, who brings the evil without to bear upon the weakness within, 1 Pet. v. 8; 2 Cor. ii. 11. Personally did he tempt our Lord to presume on His Father's care, Luke iv. 9-11. Once more did Christ use the

Bible, Luke iv. 12. There is but the one way of proving victorious, James iv. 7; Rev. xii. 11.

Thus did "the Captain of our Salvation" triumph not as the Son of God, but as the Son of man, Luke iv. 4, with the same weapon that you and I have, Eph. vi. 17, the written Word of God, Ps. xvii. 4, cxix. 11. Oh for grace to follow Him!

Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity.

"HE THAT HATH THE SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD."

Learn, Rev. iii. 1-3. Passages to be referred to,— Isa. xi., xli.; John xvi. ; Rev. v. ; 1 Cor. xii.

THE prayer that is put into our lips and (I trust) into our hearts to-day, is one that we cannot repeat too often. It confesses our insufficiency, 2 Cor. iii. 5; Jer. x. 23. It asks for the Spirit's guidance in everything, John xvi. 12-15; and all through Jesus Christ, John xv. 5; for our Lord is "He that hath the seven spirits of God," Rev. v. 6.

We are so apt to forget the presence of the Holy Ghost with His people, collectively and individually, 1 Cor. iii. 16, vi. 19; that, according to Christ's promise, He is abiding, John xiv. 16, 17, to teach, to comfort, and to bless them, John xiv. 26. How many reject His overtures, Acts vii. 51; hinder His operations, 1 Thess. v. 19; vex Him in His loving work, Eph. iv. 30: they do not remember that Jesus "hath the seven spirits of God."

But why seven? This is a number we find

often in Scripture connected with God's dealings, Gen. ii. 3, vii. 2, xli. 2; Lev. xxiii. 15, xxv. 8; Josh. vi. 4; Rev. i. 20, v. 6, &c. It is what is called a number of perfection among the Hebrews, and is generally used to denote the completion, fulness, or perfection of a thing. So when Jesus is spoken of as He that hath the seven spirits of God," it points to His having the Holy Spirit in all fulness for His people.

66

You will see this by looking at our Lord in four ways:

:

I. In Prophecy. Isaiah said, "The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him," Isa. xi. 1-3; see xlii. 1, lix. 21; and that in all His manifold operations-the spirit of wisdom and understanding, John iv. 29; the spirit of counsel and might, John vii. 46; the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord, John vii. 14, 15-thus was He to have the Spirit.

II. In Ministry. Everything that Jesus did was by the Spirit-He was specially set apart in baptism, Matt. iii. 16. He was led by the Spirit to temptation, Matt. iv. 1. By the same Spirit He preached, Luke iv. 18, and did all His mighty works, Matt. xii. 28. By the same Spirit He offered Himself in death, Heb. ix. 14.

III. In Ascension. It was only after His death and resurrection that the Holy Ghost could come, John xvi. 7. Then, as the triumphant king, He led captivity captive, and received gifts for men, Ps. lxviii. 18; Eph. iv. 8; see Col. ii. 15.

Those

were the gifts of the Holy Ghost, which He received according to the promise of the Father, Acts ii. 33.

IV. In Glory. We are permitted to have a glimpse of our Lord as He now appears in heaven for us, Heb. vii. 25. A Lamb, as it had been slain, 1 Pet. i. 19, 20. But that is not all,—He

has seven horns (all power, Matt. xxviii. 18), and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God, Rev. v. 6.

What a ground is this for our prayer to-day! The Mediator has the fulness of the Spirit, Col. i. 19. Oh, let it be our prayer for every day, 1 Thess. v. 17, that His Holy Spirit may, in all things, direct and rule our hearts, Gal. v. 25; Rom. viii. 5-10.